The response

In the immediate aftermath, Samsung issued what was perhaps the most tone-deaf response possible, saying that it wasn't obvious the phone was a Note 7, nor that the battery was the cause. Obviously, the company was and is looking into the root cause, and was merely hedging against an outcome — that this replacement, "good battery" Note 7 wasn't suffering from the same issues as its distressed early-production counterparts.

Should we find ourselves in a situation where a number of new Note 7s are spontaneously combusting, we'll have no choice but to retract our recommendation.

The AC editors have discussed this internally over the past day or so. And we've decided that unless the ongoing investigation can prove conclusively that there's no danger from the new, replacement Note 7s, we'll be forced to withdraw our recommendation in the near future. We're not there yet, but if you're on the fence about a Note 7 purchase, maybe wait a few days and see how this pans out.

That may be inconvenient for us — the Note 7, battery problems aside, earned our most vociferous approval — but it would be devastating for Samsung, whose trust vector with consumers has already abated and may be about to expire. That is also being compounded by an increasing willingness by carriers to (thankfully) take the sides of the customers and allow them to return their Note 7s for, well, literally any other phone they sell.

Somewhere between then and now, between the Note 7s exploding and the Note 7s exploding again, trust in not just the product itself but the company as a whole began to wane. I've been witness to casual conversations wherein regular phone-buying customers have expressed reticence to buy another Samsung phone again, period; many of them claim to be moving in the direction of the iPhone 7 Plus, which came out in mid-September and is roughly the same price. Apple will surely benefit from this fallout, but it of course won't be a one-to-one lateral movement; many Note buyers, existing or potential, will find other Android devices to buy, or — best case scenario — stick with a Samsung Galaxy S7.

But it's safe to say that the Note line is practically finished, and that the repercussions of this debacle will have far-reaching effects across the industry. You'll likely see improved controls around battery production, and greater emphasis put on the safe transportation of those batteries from nearly every company that buys Lithium-Ion cells in bulk. Samsung will lose money, yes, but it will also likely slow the speed of hardware production, perhaps culling the twice-yearly release schedule it established in 2011 with the release of the original Note.

The bigger question for Samsung now is what happens to the Galaxy S8, which is presumably just over four months from its debut. Not only does the company need to do an extensive audit of its battery suppliers (which is surely already in progress), but it has exactly that period to reassure every potential upgrader and new customer alike that it is working to ensure the most important computer in their lives is not going to be considered a dangerous good. We don't know exact numbers, but between them the Galaxy S7 and S7 edge sold nearly 30 million units worldwide; that number may be cut in half if Samsung can't win back the trust of its customer base.

The damage is done, a chemical burn searing three feet of carpet in an aisle seat of a Southwest flight, with no hope of repair.

The problem is compounded by the fact that most people buy their phones from carriers. In the U.S., carriers have been quite clear in their positions of helping customers replace phones they suspect are dangerous, but it's the salespeople who, a few months from now, will be put in the position of answering questions about battery safety, likely taking the path of least resistance. Even if the fire incident on a Southwest flight turns out to be an isolated incident in the U.S. — and I hope it is — reps at the store level and over the phone have almost certainly been instructed to avoid lingering on the Note 7 and instead push customers towards another brand.

What's next

Circling around, without declaring it dead, the Galaxy Note brand is now damaged beyond repair, done in as much by the company's callous response to the initial claims of explosions as its follow-up earlier this week. Samsung is a big company, with a lot of moving parts, and it's difficult to speak as a single entity. But now is the time it needs to unify under a single conceit: We made a bunch of mistakes, and we're learning from them. If you want your money back, you can get it. If you want another phone, you can have one. But we're not going to rest until every Note 7 customer is happy.

After that, Samsung may need to shut down the brand and move on. The damage is done, a chemical burn searing three feet of carpet in an aisle seat of a Southwest flight, with no hope of return.

Reader comments

The Galaxy Note brand is now damaged beyond repair

After all the hoops my wife had to jump through with Verizon to get her replacement Note 7 it's safe to say that she will never buy a Samsung product again. She really likes that phone and is pretty pissed that Samsung just decided to abandon it.

Have been a Windows Mobile/Phone user all the way. For the 1st time when I decide to give Android a try and want to buy a Note 7 (pre-ordered, not even released yet in the Netherlands) the whole experience goes up in flames. Pun definitely intended. Typical... I'll just stick with my Windows Phone until a phone comes out with the same Note 7 design. No phone comes close to that beautiful design right now.

I still have my Note 4 and refused to upgrade to the 5, with the removal of the external battery and SD slot. Also, the same with the Note ...7..Pathetic how they changed course from the GREAT, GREAT Galaxy Note 4!

It's a DAMN SHAME that Samsung has ruined a great device line. Just to get even with Apple, they ruined the Note line...#SMDH!

I think Samsung needs to go back to the drawing board all together. My s7 gets quite hot had to fridge it the other day to get it to respond...and that wasn't even from playing Pokemon go. And I know it is possible that there could be battery issues with it as well or do they make the notes at a different facility?

Brand? Big deal. It is just a word. Sammy will just use a new name. People are loyal to a name. Look at Google.. they have a new name for things every year. Google goes too far with thr constant name changes, tho.

I think it is a bit too harsh to say that Galaxy Note line is dead now. Yes, Samsung's reputation has been damaged. Yes Galaxy Note line has got a really bad name for it, for now. Yes Samsung is going to suffer a lot, financially, due to this fiasco. But saying that Galaxy Note line is dead, I don't think we are there yet. I am in no way a Samsung's advocate, nor do I say they are innocent in this case, but I have to agree to the fact that they are still way ahead of the competition, at least with firepower. And I totally believe, Galaxy Note will definitely make a come back next year, much stronger than any other phone ever had.

But for now, the safest thing for Samsung would be to fix and take care of their existing smartphone range. Like updating all their existing models to Android Nougat 7, including Galaxy A series from 2015 and going back to Note 4. Add Grace Ui to even Note 5 and S6 and S6 Edge (S7 and S7 Edge) are a must. Keep supporting these devices at least till MWC 2017, with monthly security patches and bug fixes, regularly. About Galaxy S8, I would suggest(which doesn't matter anyway) Samsung really make it one of a kind phone this time. 64 GB base storage(with Micro SD card), some really practical solid back instead of glass and make it shock proof too, same display size but at least 3500 mah battery, latest and best available SD or Exynos processor, no glass on rear I repeat NO GLASS ON REAR THIS TIME PLEASE, and most importantly, please spend as much time as possible to check it completely, each and every spec, both hardware and software, and when you are 100% sure then announce it and it's subsequent global launch will be much more easier.

I think it is a bit too harsh to say that Galaxy Note line is dead now. Yes, Samsung's reputation has been damaged. Yes Galaxy Note line has got a really bad name for it, for now. Yes Samsung is going to suffer a lot, financially, due to this fiasco. But saying that Galaxy Note line is dead, I don't think we are there yet. I am in no way a Samsung's advocate, nor do I say they are innocent in this case, but I have to agree to the fact that they are still way ahead of the competition, at least with firepower. And I totally believe, Galaxy Note will definitely make a come back next year, much stronger than any other phone ever had.

But for now, the safest thing for Samsung would be to fix and take care of their existing smartphone range. Like updating all their existing models to Android Nougat 7, including Galaxy A series from 2015 and going back to Note 4. Add Grace Ui to even Note 5 and S6 and S6 Edge (S7 and S7 Edge) are a must. Keep supporting these devices at least till MWC 2017, with monthly security patches and bug fixes, regularly. About Galaxy S8, I would suggest(which doesn't matter anyway) Samsung really make it one of a kind phone this time. 64 GB base storage(with Micro SD card), some really practical solid back instead of glass and make it shock proof too, same display size but at least 3500 mah battery, latest and best available SD or Exynos processor, no glass on rear I repeat NO GLASS ON REAR THIS TIME PLEASE, and most importantly, please spend as much time as possible to check it completely, each and every spec, both hardware and software, and when you are 100% sure then announce it and it's subsequent global launch will be much more easier.

The fact the galaxy note line is getting destroyed from this accident makes me sad, since the note 7 and s7 are the only Samsung phones I've ever considered good....that being say, the comments here trying to disparage AC about reporting news that HAPPENED and defending a phone that has been PROVEN to be defective really makes me ponder on how illogical fanboyism makes you....

I think it is a bit too harsh to say that Galaxy Note line is dead now. Yes, Samsung's reputation has been damaged. Yes Galaxy Note line has got a really bad name for it, for now. Yes Samsung is going to suffer a lot, financially, due to this fiasco. But saying that Galaxy Note line is dead, I don't think we are there yet. I am in no way a Samsung's advocate, nor do I say they are innocent in this case, but I have to agree to the fact that they are still way ahead of the competition, at least with firepower. And I totally believe, Galaxy Note will definitely make a come back next year, much stronger than any other phone ever had.

But for now, the safest thing for Samsung would be to fix and take care of their existing smartphone range. Like updating all their existing models to Android Nougat 7, including Galaxy A series from 2015 and going back to Note 4. Add Grace Ui to even Note 5 and S6 and S6 Edge (S7 and S7 Edge) are a must. Keep supporting these devices at least till MWC 2017, with monthly security patches and bug fixes, regularly. About Galaxy S8, I would suggest(which doesn't matter anyway) Samsung really make it one of a kind phone this time. 64 GB base storage(with Micro SD card), some really practical solid back instead of glass and make it shock proof too, same display size but at least 3500 mah battery, latest and best available SD or Exynos processor, no glass on rear I repeat NO GLASS ON REAR THIS TIME PLEASE, and most importantly, please spend as much time as possible to check it completely, each and every spec, both hardware and software, and when you are 100% sure then announce it and it's subsequent global launch will be much more easier.

I think it is a bit too harsh to say that Galaxy Note line is dead now. Yes, Samsung's reputation has been damaged. Yes Galaxy Note line has got a really bad name for it, for now. Yes Samsung is going to suffer a lot, financially, due to this fiasco. But saying that Galaxy Note line is dead, I don't think we are there yet. I am in no way a Samsung's advocate, nor do I say they are innocent in this case, but I have to agree to the fact that they are still way ahead of the competition, at least with firepower. And I totally believe, Galaxy Note will definitely make a come back next year, much stronger than any other phone ever had.

But for now, the safest thing for Samsung would be to fix and take care of their existing smartphone range. Like updating all their existing models to Android Nougat 7, including Galaxy A series from 2015 and going back to Note 4. Add Grace Ui to even Note 5 and S6 and S6 Edge (S7 and S7 Edge) are a must. Keep supporting these devices at least till MWC 2017, with monthly security patches and bug fixes, regularly. About Galaxy S8, I would suggest(which doesn't matter anyway) Samsung really make it one of a kind phone this time. 64 GB base storage(with Micro SD card), some really practical solid back instead of glass and make it shock proof too, same display size but at least 3500 mah battery, latest and best available SD or Exynos processor, no glass on rear I repeat NO GLASS ON REAR THIS TIME PLEASE, and most importantly, please spend as much time as possible to check it completely, each and every spec, both hardware and software, and when you are 100% sure then announce it and it's subsequent global launch will be much more easier.

It's not the note regular people understand to have issues. It's Samsung phones altogether. "the Samsungs explode". Samsung is in a world of **** right now and this will impact all people considering a switch to them. They'll keep their diehard fans, but no new customers for the foreseeable future.

WOW! NOW THIS IS TRUE STUPIDITY! ANY REAL NOTE USER KNOWS IT'S THE ONLY PHONE OFFERING ITS FEATURE SET, AND IS DEFINITELY NOT GOING TO SWITCH TO APPLE ! ONE EVEN THEIR BEST PHONE DOESN'T HAVE THE FEATURES NOTE HAS. THEN THERE'S THEIR OVERPRICED EVERYTHING; HARDWARE, SOFTWARE, U NAME IT ! LLOL. REALLY NOW WHO MAKES A PHONE THAT EVEN COMES CLOSE ! MY NOTE DESTROYS ALL. THE ONLY THING THAT WILL DESTROY THE NOTE BRAND IS SAMSUNG'S REMOVING FEATURES/ATTEMPTS AT MAKING THEIR PHONES MORE IPHONE LIKE! STUPIDITY LIKE REMOVING SD SLOTS, REMOVABLE BATTERIES, AND EXTREMELY USEFUL ADD-ONS LIKE THE IR BLASTER. THIS WAS WHAT KILLED SALES OF THE NOTE 5. ALL THEY HAVE TO DO IS ADD ALL FEATURES OF THE NOTE 4 TO THE INNOVATIONS OF THE 7; WTH ALL SAFETY CONCERNS ADDRESSED AND THEY WILL HAVE EVERYONE THAT LOVES THE NOTE FULLY LOOKING FORWARD TO THE EARLIEST PURCHASE DATE ! THE WHOLE PREMISE OF THIS ARTICLE IS FOOLISH; ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THAT THE OVERWHELMING MAJORITY OF THE NEW NOTE7S HAVE BEEN WITHOUT ISSUE AND THO EXTREME, THESE ISOLATED CASES MAY VERYWELL BE THE PRODUCT OF IRRESPONSIBLE /DESTRUCTIVE OWNERS. OR EVEN CASES OF ACTUAL FRAUD/SABOTAGE. TRUTH IS WE DON'T KNOW. WHAT IS KNOWN IS THAT SAMSUNG HAS BEEN MAKING PHONES, DISPLAYS, ETC. FOR DECADES AND NEVER HAD THESE TYPES OF ISSUES, WHILE BEING A INDUSTRY LEADER/ PIONEER, RESPONSIBLE FOR BRINGING INCREDIBLE INNOVATIONS TO THE MARKETPLACE. SO PROVIDED THEY DO THEIR DUE DILIGENCE AND KNOCK OFF THE IPHONE EMULATION, IM DEFINITELY GOING TO BE PURCHASING WHATEVER INCREDIBLE PRODUCTS THAT FIT MY NEEDS AND FINANCIAL /BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.

Well....simply for me, I will be flying twice a week starting in a week and a half. I think it's a fair assumption that there will be another recall and perhaps a discontinuance of the N7...and at the very least, I cant fathom how airlines are going to allow this phone on a plane on or off, even if other phones and devices suffer the same failures.....it's simply to blatantly in the media at the moment.It does appear that there is a lot of blind loyalty here and not enough common sense concern for peoples safety.

The reputation is the problem, if they want to restore the Note brand to its old glory, they have to power up and make the Note 8 a ultra Phone, and most importantly, that doesnt explode, google Will be a heavy warrior next year, add LG and the countless chinese phones, samsung needs a miracle literaly

We are a forgiven samsung die hard fan, for all that samsung has brought to the fore front when others were given a sorry phone and trashy deals, samsung was and still is bold. This company did what everyone one else was afraid to do. Samsung turn cellphone into SMARTPHONE, bland into BLAM,bing in BLING. Now I have a Samsung note 3, yes I know I had it for a while hahaha; it was all the rage and it is the very phone th a t I compare all my past and future phone to . I ask my self and look up specks to see do the have the camera capacity, capabilities and etc... that this one does if not I am sticking with what I have my note. I check for storage have you ever notice samsung gave us storage with all thelse other good stuff on board and did not charge a lot of money for it. Phone arena if you want to check it out. 30 gig of storage and SD card slot bad to the bone camera and my camera still is better than some the phone that were made this year 2016. We are in October people and my phone is 4 years old what does that say about Samsung it is a Samsung is leading still all the other companies need to still catch up with Samsung one note blows up does describe the company the people have bad things happen all the time they just go back in rethink things I still believe in Samsung and I'm ready for the Note

Whether true, false, or somewhere in between, there seems to be a lot of note 7 (Samsung) zealots that will defend them to the death. No problem in that. But there has got to be a point where you have to read a few sites and come up with your own conclusion instead of bashing ONE site and calling it a false and negligent news outlet. DO some research kids.....You're not ENTITLED to be handed everything......even the truth.

"The Galaxy Note 7 is now damaged beyond repair" would have been a more suitable title. But whatever you say, I also found the statement about future sales of Samsungs next generation devices could be cut in half quite hilarious.

I would avoid Note 7 like a plague, the prime time is done, never happened, one recall done and maybe another on the way, i could never sleep or think straight when the Note 7 in my pocket....

Note series won't come to an end, especially if S8 will leave a good mark on everyone, it has to do everything right and tick all the boxes to impress everyone, as the next year gonna be even harder.

I hope to see another note, outside of battery issues i hope it will have 6 inch screen, at least 4000+mah batt, good kernel optimization, no edges at all, dual speaker, IP68 and better sound quality via headphones for ALL versions.

So Samsung should dump the whole Note brand?, wow what an hysterical comment. I agree with some of the comments that the reports should be verified and not tried in the court of the Internet. Until we find out if the Note 7 in question is a replacement Note 7 we should not be suggesting to drop the whole brand. We would hardly have any cars to drive if the auto companies used this silly logic. Indeed readers need to be aware about whats going on and the potential dangers of the Note 7, but at least let's follow the facts and right now we have a story where all the facts are not in yet. Until we do it's best to be patient until we have a full verified story from Samsung and the Consumer Product Safety Commission, I know that's difficult to do in a sensational driven media and any suggestion that the entire Note brand should cease to exist is pure nonsense.

I think that the Galaxy brand as a whole is now in jeopardy. My S6 Edge has a bad rotation sensor because I used the quick charger and the phone heated up too much. This makes me think that Samsung was taking risky shortcuts for a bit. If I had the money I'd get a new non Samsung phone ASAP because they have lost my trust in their brand.

Good point that the Note 7 still is in trouble, regardless of whether it is one new Note 7 or many.

But can’t agree that one can extrapolate so far about the brand's future without more and different data.

To assert that the Note brand is “practically finished,” or “damaged beyond repair,” requires more than anecdotal vignettes like “I heard some guys at the phone store.” You may be right, but not for reasons stated.

Listening to even a LOT of guys at the phone store would not necessarily give one a reliable probability sample that could be help determine (with an appropriate technique) the sense of the entire phone-buying population.

Samsung needs to get the Note 7 fixed -really fixed. Then Samsung needs to have some of their marketing-focused MBAs research the current effects in detail; and test some different futures for the Note brand under different scenarios. After that they could legitimately decide that the Note model no longer holds and positive commercial value for the company.
(Oh, I, too, think that Jerry works for Monsanto. . . somehow that makes sense! :-) )

When the XBox 360 was failing at a rate of knots with RRODs left, right and centre, similar forebodings of doom were placed on the 360 brand. However thanks to the way in which MS dealt with the situation Xbox flourished, with only the appointment of Don Mattrick ruining the brand. I imagine the same will be the case for Note.

I don't believe Samsung should kill the Note model of their brand. They should find the root of the problem. I agree with giving the customer the opportunity to return the phone for another Samsung phone (other than the Note 7). Other companies didn't kill certain models of their brand when they had problems; for example, Toyota didn't stop making certain models of its cars. In 2014 Toyota recalled more than 6 million vehicles for a variety of problems spanning nearly 30 models in the United States and Japan, among other places. The recall involved the following 1.3 million vehicles in the United States: certain Model Year 2009-2010 Corolla, 2009-2010 Matrix, 2008-2010 Highlander, 2009-2010 Tacoma, 2006-2008 RAV4 and 2006-2010 Yaris vehicles. In addition, in 2014 Toyota is recalled around 1.9 million hybrid Prius cars around the world following the discovery of faulty software in the car's hybrid-control system. The affected vehicles were manufactured between March 2009 and February 2014.
Toyota find the root cause to the problem without eliminating any of the models. Toyota's situation was a lot bigger than Samsung's situation, and Toyota is still one of the top car manufacturing companies. People still view Toyota as one of the top brands.
The issue that Samsung is having with its batteries could be an issue other companies could possibly have who purchased batteries from the same manufacture as Samsung. The issue could not be the battery itself it could be one of the 6Ms (man, material, mother nature, machine, method, management).
Samsung should use BestBuy where they have Kiosks to setup repair stations or answer centers to resolve this issue, and to assist the customer with any concerns. I hope they don't cancel the Note model because of what the media is saying.... If Toyota and other companies that had issues with their brands would have listened to the media, then would not have the great products that they have produced. Therefore, Samsung please fix the issue and continue making the great brands that you make...

As I type this on my S7. I'll be damned if you guys haven't just made me nervous lol. I almost feel like my phone can explode in my hands. But I feel confident in Samsung as well. No S7s have exploded. And I do plan to purchase the S8 as of now next spring

This article is ridiculous and utter garbage writing. A whole brand should be removed over one problem phone? I understand if it stated the Note 7 is damaged beyond repair but the WHOLE BRAND? This article needs to be revised.

No iPhone users I know personally are even going to consider a Note now. Everyone has heard about this. Samsung got more press with these shenanigans than they did from the overly euphoric articles wrote about the phone when it was released.

I was hoping they had seriously fixed the issues. Holding off on upgrading just so I could get more play time with one in the carrier stores. But, it's off the table now.

The Google Pixel is too ugly for me to even consider. Plus, that back mounted finger print scanner... I just cannot.

What a bunch of cry babies. "Boo hoo, I won't buy another Samsung again". All manufacturers have recalls. Admittedly, this is a particularly bad incident. But the pathetic childish 2 yr old tantrums from a bunch of adults. Samsung gave you a lot more innovation than the latest iPhone. Give them a break, grow up and reconsider them for either a Galaxy S7 or a future model. I have a Samsung and when I upgrade, they will be the first OEM that I consider. It's understandable that you look past the Note 7. It's childish to stomp your feet like a tired toddler and say you will never buy Samsung again.

This is probably the dumbest comment thread I have ever read on AC. Clearly the majority of the people inflamed by this article either completely missed there point or didn't actually read more than the headline and one paragraph.

I'll say it again, Samsung themselves need to do an UNCONDITIONAL BUYBACK OF THE NOTE NUKES, PERIOD. No paperwork, no forms to fill, bring the Nukes to where you bought it, you're given cash in hand immediately.

I mean, the Nukes went off while the plane was on the ground, just imagine it going off 35 thousand feet in the air in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. Imagine if a Muslim American held a Note Nuke and it went off and there's a bigoted Law Enforcer or trigger happy person without a gun. Realise that they screwed up twice and thus have ZERO excuse to be let off easily.

Also, Volkswagen actually FIXED their cars that kept choking the atmosphere more effectively than Samsung has been able to keep the Nukes from going off!!!

I work for a Korean company and their MO is to avoid things. They stall and make situations worse then they need to be. They only react after there is a lot of damage. The inefficiency in the Korean work culture is well known. They like busy workers even if they are not producing...they are busy so that is good. I also suspect with Samsung the workers knew of this issue before the Note 7 was released but would not bring it up to their bosses. Nobody ever questions authority.

Well, been using the Note 4 for 2 years. Easily the best, most useful device I have ever owned. Literally a perfect business companion - I just love it. Was drooling over the Note 7 as an upgrade. Now I don't know what I'm going to get. Maybe they get it all straightened out when I'm ready to get a new phone a couple of months hence....

I'm keeping my replacement Note 7; it is a fantastic phone. I'm truly tired of all the dramatic headlines, the piling on, and all the tech writers who paraphrase each others' stories just to get something on the page. No one seems to care that only a tiny fraction of all Notes experienced problems. My original never heated up past barely warm. No one appears to have investigated if it might not be people using faulty, cheap, aftermarket charging cables that can, and have melted Type C charging ports. Obviously these cavalier suggestions about just dropping the Note 7 are made by people who don't stand to lose BILLIONS of dollars, who don't see the merit in the device, and will put sensationalism and arrogance ahead of responsible, patient, thoughtful journalism.

Another day another garbage article about nm the note 7 exploding, when first of all this is probably an isolated incident and people will still buy Samsung because well let's be honest they make some of the best if not the best smartphones to date and the note lineup has always been the top dog. I love my note 7 it's the best phone I've had to date it sucks they've had these battery issues but this type of stuff happens now and again and all devices with lithium ion batteries are subject to such. Tbh this phone is literally the best android device I've owned and imo that's on the market today. They will get through this bs and once it's confirmed safe they'll be flying off shelves again. The media has just fear mongered so bad with this whole situation.

To sell a lot of devices, you need the people who dont really care about digging deep into specs to be interested in buying your product. Most of the public arent tech savvy they just want something that works great, is easy to use, and looks cool. So the whole Note line gets thrown under the bus. Its unfair, but perception is real.

What do you think the first thing the average smartphone user will think when the Note 8 rolls out? It will be something like "Isn't that the phone that was catching on fire?"

Thats why it MAY be smart to change the name to something like the Galaxy S8 Pro (that includes the S Pen). It might be the best solution to a bad situation.

I would not say the Note brand is damaged. This problem with the battery could have occurred in any other Samsung phone or any other manufacturer's phone. It's not due to the s-pen, for example, or a specific software pertaining to the Note. I did not get the Note 7 because I have the Note 5 but I am getting next year's Note.

Totally uncalled for article and yes there is a problem with the current note 7 device perception mainly created by negative media hype I didn't believe what I read in this article. It should have been written a bit more objectively...period.

Well no reason to buy the bad software experience carrier branded Samsung phones anyway. iPhones or Pixel phones from Google store provide the best experience for the price. If the Samsung phones are in the $400 or $500 range then may be recommendable and overlook the subpar user experience.

Speaking for myself only. Let me roll it back a little when the note7 came out in liked the features and the S pen.i thought Ok 10/07/ is my birthday that will be my present to me. So I waited. Then the recall came and I thought Ok when the new notes come out I'll grab one whole waiting my eye caught the V20 but I was still thinking note7. Now we see issue with the replacement. Looking again at the V20 but I feel it's way over priced for a device that can't get wet. For cheaper money I can get equal or better back to the note7. I'm not sure if the note7 can survive this the product name damage is done that can be refurbished the note brand is beyond damage.Samsung should cuts it's losses and take the time to work on galaxy 8 make the standard 5'5 then add a plus at 5'7 that comes with the S pen.thus ending the note brand name. But Samsung should be up front with us as they owe there customers that. No I will not be buying the note7 nor will I buy the V20 not at those prices

I do not like removable batteries. If anything the pixel looks maybe OK. But smaller screen, not water proof, screen not as good and expensive for what it is. Also phone bezel way bigger compared to no bezel.

Character is subjective. The back is not plastic. The second screen is less of a gimmick than a curved screen. Anything over $500 is overpriced for what you get. Yes, LG phones are LG phones; brilliant deduction.

Where was this deemed a success?? I'm still till this current moment unable to replace my launch note 7 because they never had replacement notes in black... All this could have been prevented if they kept the removable battery that everybody asked for. They're getting what they deserve. Moving to lg who are also idiots for not taking advantage of this colossal failure and having the v20 out in September.

This really sucks as no Android currently available comes even close to matching the note 7. All the Android phones at the note 7 price are inferior and don't come close to matching what the note 7 offers.

I am concerned now that have a expensive phone that will not be supported and updated with no alternative to go to.

I really don't understand how the Note "brand" can be dead when only ONE in SEVEN models has had an issue. It would be different if this was the FIRST galaxy Note but it's not. Secondly, the phone before it the S7 and S7E not only sold millions but was lauded as literally one of the best phones EVER and a phone, I might add, that has NOT had incendiary issues. We live in a VERY reactionary world (safety seals, Patriot Act, etc). It often takes a major event to instigate change but change comes. There is just NO WAY Samsung will EVER let a battery issue tarnish another flagship handset. I would buy the S8 tomorrow if it were on sale. I love my Note 7 and will be very sad if it must be returned (still awaiting the OFFICIAL word on that from a COMPLETED investigation of the Southwest incident) but I take some solace in knowing how close the user experience of the S7 will be. Man I will miss that S-pen though.

Is the Galaxy Note brand damaged beyond repair?
It's damaged pretty badly at this point, but not “beyond repair”. As bad as it is, it could be worse.

Should Samsung give up on the Note brand entirely?
No, they just need to go back to removable batteries, take their time with quality testing, and just continue to be cooperative with laws and recalls.

Don't see the reason for headline like this. Ferraris get on fire on more occasions than Note phones and you never see a headline Ferrari is dead and car autocombustion is a lot more dangerous than a melting phone. As a matter of fact first recorded Note injury was on September 7th and so far it was the only one documented online until this. Many more iPhones have exploaded through out the years starting with iPhone 4 including with injuries and no one ever said iPhone is dead.

Part of the problem is that Samsung went into too loud of a recall and gained a lot more negative press from it. They wanted to make it right and that came back and bit them in the butt, this is your typical case how honest PR can get you into crisis mode. You think you are doing the right thing but actually you are doing it wrong.

That is an absolutely poor analogy. No one would be worried if a multi millionaire lost a Ferrari from poor build quality. Heck, they'd make fun of said multi millionaire and then joke "He shoulda bought a Toyota!"

It's a whole different matter if a child can LITERALLY DIE because of the Note Nuke going off, or hundreds of people might literally end up at the bottom of the ocean because a Note Nuke went off inside a flight 35 thousand feet in the air above the Atlantic Ocean, or a Muslim American is murdered by a bigoted Law Enforcer because their Note Nuke went off and they thought it was a suicide bombing, all because of Samsung's PISS POOR BUILD QUALITY AND QUALITY CONTROL MEASURES.

Today I saw exactly what the article is referencing first hand. I was telling my brother in-law about the Pixel phone I had preordered and I stated that it was about the same dimensions as the Note. His first response was "did you hear about all the Note phones going on fire? I'd never buy one." He didn't know what a Note 7 was or a 5 or 4, just that they were "The Note". I'd say Samsung has to think long and hard.

Dropping the Note name wouldn't be the worst decision. Make 3 versions of the Galaxy S8. Take your time getting it right. They can be called S8, S8 Edge, and S8 Pro. With the Pro version having a S-Pen. Feel like that would solve as much of the perception issue that is possible.

Talk about abrupt lol, yea it is likely the device on the plane was a "safe" note, but only ‎1 incident and then I guess another in China? Well when this first happened it was way more "reports" so to da_n a product line is funny.

We take for granted, but any cellphone can explode under the right circumstance. Samsung default needs to address this and figure out why this issue happened and it's so widespread. I suspect: Apple did this. Paid off the battery manufacturer. To sabotage them, and it worked. I still find the note 7 to be overpriced and I don't agree with name skip so I'll just keep my 5.‎
‎
Sent from my BlackBerry 10  smartphone

There's no way the brand is dead...I will only ever buy a Note - I have had the 3 and now the Note 5 and my next phone will be the Note 8. Your reporting about saying the brand is dead or dying is terrible.

I love this. "This is the end of Samsung Note line." "The end is near!"

****. Car manufacturer's have directly caused the deaths of drivers due to mechanical faults, and yet, everyone still drives.. No one gives a ****. If the phone is faulty again, their be another recall, people will go out and buy a different phone, and in a year, Samsung will release some other line, and life will go on.

If this phone gets recalled again, I'll get a refund, and the S7 Edge.. ANd wait a year.

This article jumps to conclusions from the basis of alleged malfunctions that have yet to be proven. I'll hold onto my Note 7 for I don't consider myself to be one of those scared little people who runs for cover at the mention the sky is falling without proof that this sky is actually falling. I understand that Android Central means well when reporting what they considered to be a safety concern but this article is full of sensationalist b*******. IMHO.

We all know the media overblow every clickbait news, but this is really a concern with many people I have spoke with. Like I was talking to two non-techy people, both wanted to buy Galaxy S6, they didn't. Their thought was Samsung's phones are blowing up so never again with Samsung. A lot of people are not even thinking about the Galaxy model that is involved here, it's all about the Samsung brand now.

Part of me feels bad for Samsung, because this probably could have happened to anyone, but another part of me is glad this happened to them in particular. First of all, they are probably one of the only Android manufacturers that had the ability to recover from this, and second, I felt like we needed a rebalancing. Samsung was taking over too much of the Android market share, leaving little room for other Android manufacturers. This may help others like HTC and Google gain a real foothold like they weren't able to before. In the end, more successful Android manufacturers will lead to more competition and more good Android phones.

I think Apple is the one winning with this mess. If Samsung reputation is going down the drain, these mediocre OEM's won't benefit from. A lot of people knows either Apple or Samsung. If Google is actually serious about these ipixels and wanna gain market share, then they should step up their game

"the Galaxy Note brand is now damaged beyond repair"
What a bunch of B.S.
You would have to be insane to say that.

This is what a typical Oneplus insane fanboy would say, no reason, no basis for facts, just frikin B.S.!.
The Note line of phones is not damaged, and shows clearly that Samsung has done the right thing.

How many other phones, from many other companies, have seen the very same thing, without claiming it's the end?
I've seen many instances in the past of phones catching fire in the news, with usually the explanation was because the owner abused the phone!

I don't know about the whole brand is damaged beyond repair bit. I think you're jumping on the bandwagon a bit. If everyone is so concerned then Samsung should just pull the Note 7 all together. Come Note 8 virtually nobody will remember this fiasco. There is room much credit being given to consumers and their memory in this article.

They can't completely discontinue the Note line. Maybe rebrand the name - but having the S Pen in the smaller devices leaves only 1 big event for Samsung a year. Plus, Note line usually adds new features that are somewhat experimental before throwing it into their smaller phones.

I do not think the Note line is dead. Almost anyone who has the phone loves it, even though this battery issue is annoying.

The point is it would have cost Samsung a small fraction of the money and time to resolve this issue (assuming the problem is with the battery anyway), The Note 7 is effectively dead, Samsungs reputation seriously damaged, it wouldn't have been with a removable battery than anyone can change, no need to recall the phone etc. We'll see what happens next year.

I think that Samsung has taken very hard steps to fix the bad phones issue but media just got a chance to write and earn. They dnt bother verifying stories.

Now i dnt think they will stop, they will use case in every aspect and write articles on it, after all Samsung is big brand and writing about it will give you clicks. Who cares about Samsung reputation.

I was ready to pull the trigger on a Note 7 when this happened. I settled on a Note 5 which I am thrilled to use. I don't believe the Note 5's reputation is harmed in any way so I wouldn't say the Note brand is completely damaged.

This is at very least a fairly serious perception issue. "Perception? Are you kidding?" No. iPhones (6s and 7s) are "exploding" in about the same numbers at the safe Note 7s. (http://bgr.com/2016/10/04/iphone-6s-battery-explosion-fire/) If the original Note 7s hadn't had the battery issue, we'd probably be reading about this in the same way as those iPhones. (By that I mean hardly at all.) Yet, because these incidences are perceived to be linked to the earlier battery issue, they look more significant. However, that perception may be enough to permanently damage the "Note" brand as you suggest. Brands are all about perception and Samsung will have to work through this "image problem."
My suggestion to Samsung is this: The suggestion to merge the S and Note lines isn't a bad one. Produce two "sizes" and even keep the S-Pen in the larger model. (The name doesn't even need to be changed :) ) When you bring out the S8, meet the perception issue head on with an open letter talking about all the quality control that's going into the batteries for the phone.
Will that completely resolve the issue? No, but it will be a large step forward.

You have fair points, but I don't think anyone outside of this community has heard of iPhones exploding - I know I haven't, whereas everyone has heard of exploding Note 7s. Still say perception is rubbish? I don't think so.

To all those saying this isn't enough proof... I say it is enough proof. Even before this there was enough proof. Why? Because a phone is judged by it's human perception. Do I feel safe picking up an iPhone? Yes. Do I feel safe picking up a Nexus, Xperia, or any other phone? Yes. Do I feel safe picking up a Note 7? No. Regardless of recalls and whatever, the human perception of the Note 7 has been warped because of what has happened. That risk is always in the back of your mind. Heck, you can hardly use a Note 7 on any plane in the world! So yes, the Note name is damaged beyond repair - for good. Samsung would be wise to apologize, make things right, and leave the Note era behind. There is no point in flogging a dead horse.

The Note era will not end with the Note 7. The Galaxy Note was the trend setter for large phalet devices as well as the device that resurrected the stylus. The faulty batteries are the problem, the battery itself and not the rest of the hardware Samsung has implemented. If anything, Samsung will use the Note 7 as motivation to make the next Note device that much more extraordinary.

Yeah, the brand isn't damaged beyond repair, just the Note 7 itself. Nevertheless, Samsung loyalists will stick with it, especially if Sammy can pinpoint the problem convincingly enough and slash the price significantly. What may be dead and buried, though, is their compulsion to cram a 5.7" display and as many components as possible into as small and slender a package as possible AND make it look shiny & pretty AND make it waterproof. Something in their design is going to have to give.

Bought the Note 3, loved it. Note 4, eh, no love. Note 5 took away all I wanted...no removable back, no SD card slot. Glass was dumb, sure it's pretty, but it's fragile because it doesn't flex. S-pen debacle, now a battery scandal that won't go away.
Let's face it, phone batteries have caught fire before, and will again. But several of the same phone is a massive screw up on Samsung's part.
Don't care. I left the reservation. I just sold my Nexus 6p and ordered a Pixel. Neither will light your cigar for ya.

Simple.... Even the US carriers are starting to pay attention and consider dropping the device entirely. When that happens, it will be harder for Samsung to convince them future models are safe, and you can bet they'll order less Samsung phones as a result.

I've been holding out for the S8 anyway, especially now that I've seen the lackluster and overpriced Pixels.

Samsung probably would be better off scrapping the Note 7 though. Justified or not, there's a perception problem, and Samsung is to blame. Let the press and public forget the Note 7, and move on. It'll never sell like it should have at this point anyway.

On the other hand could it be that Android Central is running a propaganda campaign in order to drive sales of Pixel devices? Journalists of all people know that nothing sells like fear. I'm not implying anything, I'm just throwing that out their that's all.

I don't see how anybody can disagree with this article. I'm a Samsung fan, I've owned many Samsung devices, I'm also a very unparanoid type of person but this has me second guessing buying a Samsung device based on safety concerns. My S6 has been incredibly trustworthy but now I sometimes look at it and wonder when and if it's going to explode. I hope the Note line isn't dead but yeah people gotta be thinking about their safety after the Note 7 situation.

Maybe this will push manufacturers to move back to user-replaceable batteries. Just think how much less of an event this would have been if the batteries could have been taken out of the devices. Battery wear is one of the main reasons the average user replaces their phone. At the prices of phones now, I'd love to be able to replace my battery and push my phone out to a 3 year+ replacement cycle. But manufacturers want "force obsolescence". That idea bit the auto industry in the 70s-80s. Now it is biting the mobile phone industry (at least Samsung so far). Learn from history. I know I seem to be in the minority here at Android Central, but I would gladly take a slightly thicker phone to have the battery replaceable.

Android Central jumping the gun somewhat.
26 claims so far found Fraudulent or False.
Now we have the latest Sth West Airlines Brian Green his New Note catches fire after being powered down no Charging involved.
Then Miraculously has a Replacement iPhone 7 ..WTF where the Heck did that come from but certainly on the ready to be viewed by the News.

I Certainly Smell a Big Fat Rate Android Central.
Verge were at the very heart of the First Article with all the Information as though they ran an Exclusive.
Verge has been involved in Fraudulent Behaviour before.

Samsung Is silent as it too wants to Investigate I feel they know something Doest sit right.

Remember to the iPhone 7 and the New Note 7 Now Share the very same Battery Supplier ATL.China.
Yep and that's exactly what Doesn't sit right .

Now if this Latest Brian Green Claim is found Fraudulent Verge along with Brian Green will be Prosecuted .
Involving an Aircraft *!

It was dead to me with the note 5 following the new glassy back and nonremovable battery fad. But still, this was one incident for the green battery note 7, Li-ion batteries have tendencies to explode, unless there's a mass amount of people who have their note 7s to continue to explode, then I'll buy that as the note line's death,

One defective device should not tarnish the entire line. None of the prior Notes experienced any significant issues. If anything they should release the Note 8 along with the S8 (if they are looking to have similar specifications). The S-pen is great and is a real differentiator for a large screen devices.

Customers will be wary of next year GS8... Things will be really hard for samsung and possible affect them in the long run . The mobile division needs to take a break and adjust things even if it will take them months or years and come back to win every customers they have loose... The customers trust in samsung is weaking gradually with the recent explosion on the new replacement units

Samsung should abandon the Note line? The Note line isn't the problem. The problem is faulty batteries being overlooked in the manufacturing process. This is Is a Samsung problem and the Galaxy S8 is going to be looked at as skeptically as the Note 8 (if that happens). Abandoning the Note brand will not change Public perception. Samsung has to win back the public's trust. Now how they win the PR war can be debated all day and is another story for another day. But they can start with fully owning this issue, continue making great devices, throw some perks in their with their next release and that's a possible good place to start. Give a few freebies and you could be ok. People hardly ever walk away from free stuff. A company's bad reputation or not.

It's amazing how ppl forget so fast. You are all spitting on Note 7. Android king. All previous 5 were amazing and best phones of their time. I am shure, no matter what happens to unfortunate Note 7, note 8 will set new standard for mobile industry and I don't see any reason to discontinue Note series. It's easily donne not to release it in USA if you guys don't won't it. Just don't cry after if the best phone in world won't be available for you.

Eh, I can't say the Note 5 was that great either. My Note 5 has been in and out of Samsungs service center 3 times for the batteries failing.

I loved their prior Notes orignal through the 4th. In fact I sold my Note 5 when it came back from it's last repair. Bought a Iphone 6S Plus, LG G5 as well I still from time to time out my sim card back into my Note 4 and use that too.

I'VE USED A IPHONE 6PLUS AND IT'S NOWHERE ON THE CAPABILITY LEVEL OF MY NOTE 4 DID U GET IT JUST TO FLOSS/STUNT ? BECAUSE I CAN'T SEE ANYONE GOING FROM HAVING ALL THAT FUNCTION AND ADAPTABILITY, ACCESS TO INCREDIBLE PROGRAMS (MOST FREE), LEVEL OF CUSTOMIZATION, AND NOT TO MENTION INCREDIBLE ABILITY TO CONTROL AUTOMATION IN ONE'S ENVIRONMENT (THROUGH PLATFORMS BUILT ON THE IR BLASTER), AND DEFINITELY NOT TO BE FORGOTTEN THE INCREDIBLE ENTERTAINMENT PLATFORMS PROVIDING ACCESS TO ALL MEDIA ( MUSIC, TV, AND MOVIES) WHICH CAN ONLY BE GOTTEN BY JAILBREAKING(LLMAO MY GOD WHAT A TERM) ON THE APPLE PLATFORM. I JUST CAN'T SEE HOW ANY REAL USER CAN GO FROM ONE TO ANOTHER. THE ONLY FRIENDS I HAVE THAT OWN IPHONES ARE THOSE THAT HAVE IT SIMPLY BECAUSE OF THEIR BEING SUCH FOLLOWERS OF TRENDS/FAD.

I disagree that the Note line itself is damaged. As for the Note 7, I do agree the reputation of that phone is damaged considering all the problems they've had.

First off, their PR marketig failed. To keep in hype and get Samsung users excited they changed the image to sound snappy with the Note 7 to compete with the Iphone 7. They really rushed the phone out as much as anyone thinks just to get it out before the Iphone. I really don't think Samsung spent as much time doing quality control test to make sure their phones wouldn't have any issues.

As for the new replacement units even though it is one unit that still isn't acceptable at all. Especially when carriers just started re-selling and being able to exchange them out. It shows Samsung again rushed putting these phones back on shelves instead of taking time to find the main root of the problem.

I'll go a step further and just say it. Samsung needs to cease all production of phones and completely remove themselves from the mobile phone business all together. Between their complete inability to make a decent lag free phone, complete lack of QC and complete lack of respect for their customers, this is karma at its finest.

I couldn't be happier to see this company go down in flames, and all of their crazy fans forced into buying an iPhone or Pixel lmao

I actually don't disagree with you in some bits. The US should just demand a TEN DIGIT FINE, jail time, and a sales ban.

But if you wish Samsung would just die completely over this s---, you may as well wish South Korea's economy would die because Samsung contributes 25% of that country's GDP (the value of all the products they design and make.)

I think you shouldn't jump to conclusions so soon we still haven't found out who is at fault. All I know is this guy could be lying or telling the truth about his replacement Note7. I am trying to figure out how he got to at&t so quickly and easily got an iPhone 7+ when those phone have been selling out. On top of that he went with a phone that is also having the same issue as the note 7.

Really? Do you understand how many products Samsung makes? They can't handle 2 phones? You do know they are fabbing the Snapdragon 830 .. right? Should no phone use those because they can't multitask? heh. Wow.

Brand loyalty is a mofo I tell ya! I don't know if I'd say it's dead... Because I don't believe some product loyalist will support what they like regardless. It's kinda like how some people support Trump or Clinton regardless of what negative stuff comes out against them, lol!

The Note 7 fiasco already killed this version since Samsung took too long to do an official recall. It probably was due to not having enough stock for replacements. But giving them the benefit of the doubt, they needed to have a perfect relaunch. That was impossible. They are tone deaf and should just shut it until an official cause is determined for the Southwest fire. Playing defensive and defiant is not a good look.

The Taiwanese incident I'm a bit skeptical about since it was in her back pocket and she probably stupidly sat on it (who does that on an expensive ass phone!) and caused damage prior to the fire. The carriers can't and shouldn't wait for an official cause. They are in the business of selling phones. These issues are causing disruptions and they need to cut their losses. It's a case of burn me once, but not twice.

"The problem is compounded by the fact that most people buy their phones from carriers."

Only in North America. This is false for the rest of the World.

Anyway, at this point, to me, there's only two things Samsung can do to salvage this disaster:

1 - CANCEL the Note 7.
At this point the phone is damaged beyond repair even without exploding. They would also sell the phone close to its production cost but even then the likelihood of selling them would be low. If the explosion in the new Note 7 is confirmed they should issue a global recall of the phones and a cancellation. Then they ought to give Note 7 users not only the choice of another phone, but also some sort of significant voucher to get them a discount on the purchase of their next Samsung device.

2 - DO NOT rush the Galaxy S8.
After the rushing and the debacle of the Note 7, the LAST thing Samsung should do is rush another phone out. In fact, they should probably even consider delaying the S8 release. Not only to ensure that the device is completely safe and non-exploding, but also because that would send the consumers a message of "we've learned and we're not taking chances with your safety again. We rather extend the testing period of the S8".

Samsung will lose money over this no matter what. Ending the Note line is the least of their problems. All they need to do is adding a pen to the S8 Edge. Which is pretty much what the Note 7 was anyway. A bigger S7 Edge with a pen.
But at this point the trust Samsung had built around their quality since the Galaxy S6 is shattered. It's better to loose money in a fiscal year with such a plan than to jeopardise the entire phone division for years to come.

Consumer confidence, once broken, is not easily regained.
I never trusted Samsung's quality. In fact, for many years I refused to even give Samsung a chance.
I only gave them a chance with the S7 precisely because Sony and LG had broken the confidence I had placed in them. The S7 is a great device and I do recommend it. However, I never actually trusted Samsung even despite the S7. The Note 7 debacle only confirms my pre-existing prejudices against them.
However, I have quite a few friends who swore by Samsung and that are currently jumping to LG and Sony (none is actually jumping to Apple which, again, proves the US isn't the rest of the World) because they actually got scared with this entire situation.
To them it's irrelevant that it's just one line of phones. And they don't care what component is exploding. To them Samsung released an expensive phone that placed their health in danger. That's all they needed to know to jump ship. None of them actually even replaced their Note 7s. All of them asked in the stores for their money back and bought another phone.

You are right. But I still see lots of new VW's rollin and tons of new Chevy and Toyotas out on the road. And Chevy's screw up actually KILLED people. Again, most of the general public have only a cursory knowledge of this issue and if they didn't see it daily on CNN/MSNBC/Fox then within a month or two they would forget they even heard something about it. Only uber mobile geeks constantly keep tabs on it.

The comparison with Volkswagen is terrible, though. Volkswagen's cars weren't endangering anyone.
You can argue "well, it was endangering the environment" and sure, you're right, but people don't really give a darn about that. No Volkswagen exploded.
I'm not sure what happened to Chevrolet however one also has to take into consideration the brand power. Chevrolet's aren't particularly popular outside the USA. They sell, sure, but not at all at the volume that Volkswagen or Samsung sells.
Toyota suffered heavy losses as a result of their recall.

Of course they'll still sell. Samsung will also not go out of business overnight because of this. The S7 and S7 Edge will likely continue to sell very well. However, all the customers of the Note line will be wary. I thought it was implicit my friends who dumped Samsung were Note users. They didn't replace an S6 or S7 with something else. However, any bad press generated by the Note 7, affects other customers. Word of mouth can cause real damage to a brand, specially on mobile.

And you're right, if it was not for the reports on the main news, few people would notice it. However, the problem is serious enough to have granted it a spot on the "regular" news. Once that happens, even the least tech savvy will become aware of the issue. Not only that, Samsung faces the problem of non-uber mobile geeks not being able to distinguish a Note 7 from an S7 or Note 5 or any other Samsung phone for that matter. They'll know "there's Samsung phone that explodes" and that's it.
Which is why i don't think keeping the Note 7 alive much longer will help it. It's a clearer message for everyone "We killed the phone that was giving problems. It's not available anymore" than "we'll try to find a fix and keep replacing these until we get it right".

Because not killing the Note 7 at this point will end up making sure that those non-tech geeks might decide, for example, that Samsung phones in general (because they can't tell them apart) aren't allowed on air planes, public transportation or the mail (as it's already happening). And then not only are Note 7 customers affected, but every Samsung customer is. And THAT will definitely deal a near-fatal blow on Samsung Mobile.

And sure, if we were on the 10th September 2001, this scenario would be ridiculous. But we live in a post-11th September World now. It's now more likely (and accepted) to just banish things from places than to put up sensible, more intricate solutions.

The Note7 isn't a bigger S7 Edge with a pen. The S7 Edge was bred from the Galaxy Note Edge. The S7 Edge is built from and took cues from the Note line and the S7 Edge didn't include an S-Pen.

I'm not quite sure I follow you on the "At this point the phone is damaged beyond repair even without exploding" statement, because the phone was on track to surpass Note 5 sales prior to the recall. Stocks were on the rise. It was expected to sell a bit better than the Note 5. How was it damaged beyond repair before the explosions and recall?

My wife and I have each owned the Galaxy S3, Galaxy Droid Charge, Galaxy Note 3, Note 4, OG Note7 and the new "safe" Note7's and we've never once had any issues with any of those devices exploding. We are sorry to hear of other Samsung owners having it happen to them. However, any device with these Li-ion batteries can explode especially, depending on how they've been treated and what environmental factors or stresses they've been exposed or subjected to.

Recently I've seen stories of iphones catching fire, OnePlus's, Xiaomi devices and so on. There's instances of 787 Dreamliner Jumbo jets having fires caused by their Li-ion batteries, hover board's, laptop's etc. Who should we trust? It's not a matter of if rather, when other manufacturers of phones have the same issue arise. Who will be left to trust? How well will they handle the situation? I commend Samsung for the almost (China) global recall they initiated. Was it executed perfectly? No. But they did the right thing in working with governments throughout different countries and produced hundreds of thousands of replacements within a couple of weeks. Is it possible a few replacement devices are defective, it's very possible. Do I think it'll be on the same level as prior to the recall and during the recall? I don't think so, but I guess it could happen. Do I think Samsung intentionally wanted this fiasco to happen? No. I believe they're working on fixing it and taking care of those who have been affected and could provide more compensation for the inconveniences it has caused. When you're on top, plenty of people wanna see you get knocked down and are quick to pass judgment but I believe it's how you get back up and overcome the issue at hand and Samsung is one of few that could actually pull it off and move past this.

Besides exploding batteries (that can and or has happened to phone and or other electronic devices that uses technology such as Li-ion as a power source) what has Samsung done that made you not trust their quality before, if all you've owned is an S7 because Sony and LG broke your trust in them? I'm honestly curious.

It's like Bill Maher's thing " I don't know if this is true but I believe that it is."

Again, 8 out of 10 don't care and if articles didn't gin up things beyond what they are .. one of the other two wouldn't care which would leave the one that is always freaked out unless life and their little world is perfect.

I'm hoping somebody takes up this opportunity to compete with the S-Pen. I'd love an HTC, Google, Moto phone with a good stylus...

Maybe that rumored 'Ocean Note' will become a thing.

And a merger into the S line would make sense. Drop the Edge brand since both small and large would have the curved screens, and go with S8 (smaller) with no pen and S8 Pro (5.7") with an S-Pen. Makes sense.

Any phone running 6.0 + can pair and use an active stylus. Pressure and motion data is measured by the pen and sent via Bluetooth for a better experience than using a full screen digitizer. Samsung went with Wacom because that was the only way to do it then, but now we have a better way. The problem is (as always) app support.

Developers built their app to work with Wacom's method. That took forever to happen. Thinking they will remake anything with active digital pen support is probably foolish because Samsung will keep using a screen digitizer taking away incentive for anyone to make the better thing. Catch 22 all around.

Yeah, unfortunately I'm not especially familiar with the brands for active styli that I see online. I'd love to see more support...

Any chance you're familiar with any and would recommend them?

Heck, that'd be a cool article here, comparing active styli options. Especially with all the large devices that people might want to consider as Note alternatives. And maybe one explaining why they're better (if app support comes along). Unless I've just missed such articles?

Anyway, I love what you guys do here on the site. Thanks for all of the work you do. :)

Disagree heavily with the title. It could have read ; the note 7 name is damaged beyond repair. I seriously doubt the note brand as a whole is damaged beyond repair. Damaged? Yes beyond repair? No, maybe the note 7 but the note as a brand will continue and it will do well. Who wrote this article, Kevin Michaluk?

so i'm in bed last night, and i reach for my s7 edge to set an alarm for the morning, when i pull my hand back suddenly, shocked at how friggin hot the phone has become. no obvious cause, either. hadn't even been using it for, like, a half hour....

the fact is, you cannot trust samsung anymore. they can't seem to turn out a phone anymore that doesn't bring with it a lot of anxiety, frustration and fear. this is my second go with the s7 edge. the first one had an odd habit of crashing and rebooting. and the shoddy paint job on the home button wore off after just a few weeks.

i loved the note 5, but now am starting to think it was the exception to the rule for a company that gives you phones with great specs but increasingly dubious build quality.

i pre-ordered my LG V20. if i'd been on verizon, maybe i might have considered the pixel. but all i have read about the v20 sounds great, and you can pop out a battery that gets wonky any time you want.

She was walking late at night in the rain. She even says both hands were occupied with an umbrella in one and her dog in the other. She is very small and says she had her large phone in her back pocket. Did she fall or put too much stress on the phone? Interesting that this happened in taiwan where samsung has had the most financial impact on taiwanese companies. HTC and TSMC. Also she said she picked it up with her cell phone case. Where did her perfectly undamaged cell phone case come from? Not saying that there might be an issue with the recall units but this story also seems to have some interesting holes. I think it is too premature to come to a conclusion especially when anyone can create a negative scenario easily. If you watch her video and reenactment pictures it seems off.

Let her get an iPhone and the guy from SW. I'm keeping my Note 7 unless Samsung and the U.S. announce that all are under mandatory recall/refund. 2 out of 1.5 million replacements doesn't make a pattern or a problem .. just a PR issue.

Not saying those companies have anything to do with it. Even though this is looking to be the easiest way ever to damage a rival company. It is that the note 7 debacle is being reported heavily in the 3 countries that benefit the most.

How hard would it be to walk in the rain at night with holding a dog and an umbrella with high heels. That is a recipe for falling without bracing for a fall. It is very weird that she had the cell phone case but didn't have it on and magically appeared when she picked up the phone. Why was the case not on? Did the note7 not fit in her back pocket with the case?

"Taiwan's Consumers' Foundation urged Samsung Taiwan on Saturday to suspend all sales and replacements of the new Galaxy Note 7, because continuing to distribute the model would be like "sending bombs to consumers." ".

I will stand by Samsung, I have had every iteration of the Note and absolutely love the product. Samsung has always done right by me and until they tell me otherwise I will keep my Note 7 and most likely purchase the Note 8.

Also according to Jerry, that doesn't matter. People not only have no faith in the Note 7 but have no faith in anything made by Samsung.

At least tell the whole story.

"Again, if it wasn't a big deal that a phone blew up on an Airplane and burned through her hull, I don't know of you're someone who has any logic.:"

First, it didn't burn through anything more than carpet. You're either misinformed or just trying to be a dick.

Also, you're saying that the iPhone blowing up on a plane in flight and damaging the interior is different somehow? That happened a day or two before the Note 7 incident did.

It's Ok to be afraid. But that doesn;t make facts any different. Lithium cells and equipment that use them have an acceptable rate of catastrophic battery failure. RC people know this. People working with equipment on the job that uses lithium cells know this (and there is a MSDS right there to tell them if they don't), hell even people who vape know this and half of them are the stupidest people on the planet.

But people who use cell phones don't know it. When a phone battery explodes, that is expected. When too many of the same manufacture explode in too short a time period, then you have a problem.

And none of that matters for the Note 7, because people have no idea their phone can blow up, and if it does that is expected behaviour for some units.

Well according to Rick, the airlines are stupid if they think this can only happen to Note 7's.

On vacation and riding through Reno on my motorcycle, I had my 7 Edge mounted behind the wind screen with Waze running full time. It was 95 degrees out with no wind blowing on the 7 Edge, and up popped a warning.... To hot to charge.. First time I had seen that. No battery explosion. And I had the phone thermally Hot - spanking Hot.

So different unit, different battery. Great phone. Quality in it is really really good.

I'm not throwing Samsung out of the window because of some poor sub contractor just yet... But it certainly has raised both eyebrows...

Cool. I know how hard it is to make sense of all this crapola. I'm glad you weren't just being a dick because you being skeptical makes these comment sections better :)

Never change bro. I think the best thing about these types of posts (and we hate to write them as much as people hate reading them) is getting in the comments where we can talk and think. Makes all of us better.

I agree with everything you said. I also think that 8 out of 10 folks are the street haven't heard about this and don't care about it. So if we waited for the final report and the SOP for handling getting this sorted .. and if there were less Chicken Little stories .. then most folks when going into a store would still not buy this phone because of cost, size and other assorted things. It's a niche product and always has been.

My only issue is that reading the comments which when bored as I am .. I have a compulsion to do .. gives me a headache. :D

Yeah, it burned through the hull. haha. I saw the picture and the carpet was barely burned. Do you realize that a blow torch would be needed to burn though the hull of an airplane. I don't trust ONE word of what you said now. Or you were half a sleep during this special meeting since my buddy bought a Note 7 yesterday at a VZW store.

This is why I hate these stories .. every Tom, Dick and Harry comes out to talk trash and spread rumor.

New "safe" replacement Note 7s and "safe" OG Note 7s with the green battery indicators will catch fire. 100% guaranteed. But so can every other device with a lithium polymer battery. The point is, is this a random failure or symptomatic of a manufacturing design fault. If Samsung still have a manufacturing design fault in the new Notes then they risk the credibility of the entire Galaxy line.

"After that, Samsung needs to shut down the brand and move on. The damage is done, a chemical burn searing three feet of carpet in an aisle seat of a Southwest flight, with no hope of return." I really can't with this garbage opinion piece. Please feel free to never, ever discuss Samsung again. I'm sure there are a multitude of other media outlets that will be happy to take your place.

Samsung and other OEMs will learn about manufacturing and oversight plus others while consumers should also learn about lithium batteries.

From a public standpoint, the Galaxy Note 7 has poofed into a cloud of smoke. Samsung's focus now is to make sure that current customers are cared for so that they will be likely to remain as customers. Forget about future sales. It's pretty much a dud at this point in the eyes of the general public.

Not saying that the Note brand is dead. Just that in the eyes of the general public, the Note 7 is done.

As a Note 7 owner myself, it's hard for me to accept, given that I do like using the phone, but that's just how reality is.

But they need them to sell their phones, and it's almost certain that Samsung has incentivised carriers to push their products in the past. But like the article says, it's possible that the carriers may change how they deal with Samsung from here on out

Please, the Note series is not dead. Yes this is a blemish on a successful phone line. It will keep on going because it is popular. There is a reason the AC team recommends this phone.
You are right. There will be investigations and more quality control to make sure this doesn't happen again. When they are ready to release the next version, people will still buy them. Some might hold off and wait to see if there are issues, but then it will continue on business as usual. By the time the Note 9 comes around the note 7 problems will have been forgotten.
As for me, I did the recall once. Now I'm keeping my Note 7 until the Note 8 comes out.

Agreed the note 7 is dead. Disagree with the article that the note brand is damaged beyond repair. We'll see next year when they sell more note 8's in a week than Google and LG sell pixels and G5's all year.

And Nissan has a recall right now for the Murano and 2 other models because the brakes can catch fire. I guess I have to sell my Frontier because it's a dangerous brand and will go out of business soon. ;)

YES, why THAT fact has not come up more often in relation to this story is beyond me. I mean if someone shies away from Samsung, ask them if they would still buy a Honda or Toyota (both had recalls for issues that actually killed people). $100 they will say yes (I see a **** ton of new Toyota's and Honda's every day). Humans are so self absorbed with VERY short memories (direct personal loss aside).

hahahah! A video game used in the reasoning? Again, 2 iPhone 6S's exploded last Thursday. The iPhone has averaged 2 per week having this same issue. Just in the U.S. alone .. one on a flight IN the air at the end of July. Is the iPhone any more dangerous? I doubt it.

You know that is probably okay. We don't buy our phones for their damn names anyway. They can call it the D7EYR6WUE8 for all I care so long as it has all the features I want. I'm going to trademark that name by the way.

You can't tell me that out of 2 million replacements not a single one is going to have an issue. I could see if they were blowing up and catching on fire at the rate of the originals but to declare the Note 7 dead and the end to the whole line after one more had an issue? Seems a bit rash to me.

I've owned/used three of the six note models and they were all incredible devices. The line is just fine, might take a couple of years for it to recover after this but in no way should you just call for the Note's head. Samsung should just declare that they are completely retooling the battery department or are never using that supplier again.

Flown once in my life so for someone like me there is no point or consideration to a flight ban. Again I was just saying that I don't think the whole Note line is dead because of this one model being a complete failure.

Some company offices were banning them during the first recall. If the perception stays that they're a hazard, that could happen again, and if you either worked at one of those, or had to visit one, that would be a problem for you.

On the United flight I took last weekend they had a warning on the board at the gate but the flight attendant who made their forced announcement had no clue and actually mumbled "Samsung Galaxy <something>" then said in a normal voice " Please just turn them off and don't charge them." and mumbled " whatever they are. " And no one said a word to me about mine. it was powered off as I use the Kindle I have on flights but it was sitting on the tray table in full view.

Seems like the FAA and the rest handle these things just as well as the TSA handles finding actual weapons. And it's only rumor about the carriers not selling them because one unnamed AT&T employee shot their mouth off. The carriers aren't going to remove them unless the sales go to 0 and that won't happen until the report from Samsung/FAA/Consumer Protection Ageny comes out.

Actually the carriers are getting very annoyed with these because the stock of replaced units can't be shipped until Samsung sends a truck to pick them up. They're taking up space in inventory in the back of their shops. If more people take the carrier's offers of exchanging, they may change their tunes.

92 to be exact and the page 26 update said it was actually less than 60 out of 2.5 million. So I'm going to have to agree with a few of the other folks here .. repeating the first reports as fact and making comments based suspicions is why other folks looking for answers freak out. You have no proof.

You may buy another Note because you realize that all phones have issues like this; but my mother, sister, family and friends had advised me to not take a replacement and just take the S7 Edge that they were offering. Now the carriers are offering to once again take those same replacement phones back. This is about the perception of the line at this point, the general public will not want to purchase a phone that 'might explode'